Soldier Mountain
| Soldier Mountain Ski Area | |
|---|---|
| Location | Sawtooth National Forest Camas County, Idaho  United States |
| Nearest city | Fairfield - 12 mi. (19 km) Hailey - 45 mi. (72 km) Mtn. Home 76 mi. (122 km) |
| Coordinates | 43°29′0″N 114°50′0″W / 43.483333°N 114.833333°W |
| Vertical | 1425 ft - (434 m) |
| Top elevation | 7177 ft - (2187 m) |
| Base elevation | 5752 ft - (1753 m) |
| Skiable area | 1150 acres - (4.6 km²) |
| Runs | 36 - 28% easiest - 25% more difficult - 47% most difficult |
| Lift system | 2 double chairs 1 handle tow |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 100 in. - (254 cm) |
| Snowmaking | not in service |
| Night skiing | none |
| Web site | Soldier Mountain.com |
Mountain
north of Fairfield
Soldier Mountain Ski Area is an alpine ski area in south central Idaho in the Soldier Mountains of Sawtooth National Forest. It is 12 miles (19 km) north of Fairfield in very rural Camas County. The elevation of its summit is 7177 feet (2187 m) above sea level and the vertical drop is 1425 feet (434 m). The area has two chairlifts in series on its east-facing slopes. A handle tow is near the base.
After watching the 1948 Winter Olympic tryouts in nearby Sun Valley, Bob Frostenson and his friend, Harry Durall, decided they couldn’t turn their backs on the sport of skiing. That summer they raised $10,000, began work on a base lodge, and purchased two rope tows, the first powered by a 1938 Chevrolet engine. They cut timber, installed lifts, and built lodges by hand. [1]
The first chairlift was installed in 1971, and the upper chairlift (Bird's Eye) was added in 1974. Soldier has 1150 acres (4.65 km²) of variable terrain including a terrain park, glades, bowls, and tree skiing. Soldier maintains snowmaking capabilities, although it has not operated since 1996. Soldier Mountain is open from Thursday through Sunday, except for the Christmas holiday season when it is open daily.
Actor Bruce Willis,is an owner of Soldier Mountain. Willis' company has submitted a comprehensive plan for the ski area to the U.S. Forest Service. [2]
Four miles (6.4 km) west of Soldier's summit is Smoky Dome, with an elevation of 10,095 feet (3077 m). In between there are several peaks well over 9,000 feet (2743 m): Peak 1 at 9,147 feet (2788 m) and Peak 2 at 9,529 feet (2904 m) are used in Soldier's backcountry skiing operations, served by snow cat. Speculation is that Willis plans lift service to some of these areas.[3]
An early morning fire on Monday, March 30, 2009, destroyed the 61 year old base lodge.
The cause was attributed to electrical wiring, and occurred the night following the final day of the ski season.[4] Following the construction of a new 4,500-square-foot (420 m2) base lodge, Soldier Mountain reopened ten months later, on January 28, 2010.[5]
[edit] Lifts
| Lift Name | Vertical Drop |
Length | Type | Ride Time |
Hourly Capacity |
Gradient | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Trail | 876' (267 m) |
3740' (1140 m) |
Double Chair | 23.4% (13.2 deg.) |
1971 | ||
| Bird's Eye | 599' (183 m) |
2265' (690 m) |
Double Chair | 26.4% (14.8 deg.) |
1974 | ||
| Corral | 50' (15 m) |
300' (91 m) |
Handle Tow | 16.7% (9.5 deg.) |
[edit] References
- ^ (Ketchum) Idaho Mountain Express - Soldier Mtn founder dies - 2003-04-23
- ^ (Ketchum) Idaho Mountain Express - Bruce Willis & new airport - 2006-07-28
- ^ (Ketchum) Idaho Mountain Express - Soldier Mountain dreams bigger - 2009-02-06
- ^ (Ketchum) Idaho Mountain Express - Soldier's lodge fire - 2009-04-01
- ^ (Boise) Idaho Statesman - Old memories, new lodge at Soldier Mountain - 2010-02-11
[edit] External links
- Soldier Mountain.com - official site
- Visit Idaho.org - official state site - Soldier Mountain
- Ski Lifts.org - photos of Soldier Mountain's chairlifts
- TerraServer USA.com - USGS topo map & aerial photo
- Idaho Summits.com - The Soldier Mountains - photos
- Idaho Summits.com - Smoky Dome - 10,095'
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